NLCS Preview: Chicago Cubs vs. New York Mets

By Max Wildstein 10/16/15

The Chicago Cubs and the New York Mets will begin a best-of-seven National League Championship Series on Saturday in Queens at Citi Field. The Cubs won their best-of-five National League Division Series in four games (3-1) over the 100-game winning St. Louis Cardinals, as the Mets went all the way against the Los Angeles Dodgers, winning a decisive Game 5 on the road. In a seven-game season series this year, the Cubs swept the Mets, going 7-0.

To begin the festivities on the on Saturday, the Cubs will send out their $155 million man to the mound in Jon Lester. To begin the NLDS, Lester pitched 7.1 innings, allowing three runs on five hit, while striking out nine and walking one, en route to a Game 1 loss. To follow Lester will be the hottest pitcher in the second half in MLB history, Jake Arrieta. In two starts this postseason, Arrieta has a perfect record of 2-0, as he has allowed four runs on ten hits, over 14.2 innings pitched against the Pittsburgh Pirates in the National League Wild Card Game and the Cardinals. After Lester and Arrieta is up in the air, as they could be followed by either Kyle Hendricks or Jason Hamel, maybe even both.

Pitching for the Mets in Game 1 of the NLCS will be the “Dark Knight” himself, Matt Harvey. In his lone start of the postseason against the Dodgers, he allowed three runs (two earned runs) on seven hits, along with seven strikeouts and two walks allowed, over five innings pitched. Harvey will be followed by a combination of Jacob deGrom, Noah Syndergaard and possibly Steven Matz.

In six games played against the Mets this season, Cubs rookie third baseman Kris Bryant torched the Mets with a .381/.500/.762 slash line, along with two home runs and four runs batted in. However, this postseason he has struggled, as he has hit .150/.190/.400 over 21 plate appearances, along with one home runs and two runs batted in. Miguel Montero played in five games against the Mets this season, hitting .333/.444/.533 over 18 plate appearances, along with one home run and four runs batted in. Montero, like Bryant, has struggled during this year’s playoffs, hitting .077/.250/.077 over 16 plate appearances, along with no home runs and one run batted in (only hit came in the NL Wild Card game against the Pirates).

Daniel Murphy has enjoyed a small sample of success against the Cubs this season, slashing .360/.385/.480 over 26 plate appearances, along with no home runs and no runs batted in. In just two games this season against the Cubs, Yoenis Cespedes hit .400/.571/1.000 over seven plate appearances, along with one home run and three runs batted in. Both have combined to hit five home runs and drive in nine runs this postseason.

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